Improvement in metallic reeds for musical instruments



` from the metal of the tongue-frame, at the proper dis- AA, in such amanner that the distance between them wif Q. i diluted ,giunta messes-Gtftit.

@giusti Letters .Patent No.`86,394,

dated February 2, 1869.

IMPROVNIENT IN METALLIC REEDS I 'OR MUSICA?. INSTRUMENTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

Know all men by theseprcsents:

'lhat I, A. H. HAMMOND, of the city and county of Worcester, andCommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Metallic Reeds for Musical Instruments; and I do herebydeclare that the foilowingis a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective viewof my improved metallic reed;

Figure 2 representsa perspective view of the same, the tongue and framebeing shown separate;

Figure represents a' longitudinal section, on line A B, lig. l;

Figure 4' represents a lowest-toned reeds;

.Figure 5 represents a plan view of the same,'tl1e tongue and flamebeing shown separate Figure replese'ntsa longitudinal section of thesame on line O D,'iig. 4;

Figure 7 represents a longitudinal section through the jaw, on line G,tig. 5;

Figure 8 represents a similarsect-ion ofthe reed shown in fig. l; A

Figure 9 represents a transverse section on .line E F, lig. 4, with thetongue and frame separate; and

Figure 10 represcnts a similar transverse section, after the tongue issecured in place.

(Figs. 9 and 10 show the parts upon an enlarged scale.)

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs, tomake and use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

The nature of my invent-ion consists- First, in a reed-frame, with twoseparate jaws` formed from the metal of the flame, for holding the rearend of the tongue, as hereafter explained.

Second, in a tongue-frame, in which the metal at the top of the frame,in rear of the tongue-slot, is removed back to or a little beyond thefront ends of the jaws, between which the rear end of the tongue issecured.

Third, in a tongue-frame having two jaws set up Abottom view of one ofthe tance apart, to hold the tongue in its place, without planing orotherwise removing a portion of the `inner edge of said jaws, ashereafter set forth'.

Fourth, in a tongue for metallic reeds, the corners of the base or rearend of which are bevelled or scalf loped, in the manner shown, and forthe purpose hercinaft'er explained.v

[n the drawingsv The part marked A represents the metallic frame of thereed, provided, in the usual manner, with a slot, B-` in which thetongue C yibrates.

At the rear end ofthe tongue-slot are two jaws, ff, formed by setting upportions of the metal of the frame shall be exactly equal to thewidthofthe base, b, of the tongue O, so that when s'aid tongue is secured toits seat between those jaws f f, it will be -eroper position to vibratefreely through the slot B. l

From the rear end of the slot B to a little distance back of the frontends of the jaws fj, the metal is removed, as indicated at e, fig. 2,either in the-form of' a bevel or otherwise, so that the jaws f f shallfirmly hold the tongue C at a point forward of the rear part of saidbevel, thereby rendering it impossible for the tongue C, in vibrating`through the slot B, to strike upon any of the metal of the frameA, and,by jarring, produce an imperfect tone.

The top edges of the tongue G a're bevelled or scalloped oil' at itsbase, b, 'as shown in figs. 2 and 9 of the drawings, and it is securedto the frame A by placing its base b between the' jaws ff, which areriveted down upon and against thescalloped or beve-lied edges of thetongue, as .indicatedjn fig.10. Thisbevel-orscallopV may be produced inconnection with another necessary operation in manufacturingreed-tongues.

The' method of setting up the jaws f j' is by punching the metal of theframe A partiallytlrough, from the back side, which operation isperformed by dies and machinery arranged for that purpose. Thedepressions or bevels c, at the rear end of the tongue-slot B, may bemade, in the desired form and degree, in connection with another processof manufacturing the reed-flames, and it is not essential that thisdepression should be of greater depth than just sulcient to clear thevibration of the tongue.

In lieu of setting up the jaws ff at a distance apart exactly equal tothe width of the base of the tongue C, they may be set up at a lessdistance apart, as shown in u. 5, and their inner edges pla-ned out tothe required widthl either forming erect edges, grooves, or underbevels, or the base, b, of the tongue C, may be reduced by an upwardbevel or scallop, or erect edges, to fit between the jaws, or, ifdesired, both operations may be performed.

This latter method of construction may be adopted for some of the lowerreeds of the scale, with satisfactory results, and perhaps in some ofthehighest.

It will readily be observed by all persons familiar with the manufactureof metallic reeds, or their use in reed musical instruments, that reedsconstructed in the manner above described have many important advantagesover those constructed in the usual manner. The jaws ff, being set sothat thcirt'ront ends extend forward to or a little beyond the back partof the bevel e, at the rear end of the tongue-slot B, and also beingriveted strongly against and upon the base, b, of the tongue, which is'thereby held lirmly down upon the frame in every part that canpossiblyV touch or move in vibrating, it will be' seen that there can beno jarring of the tongue upon the frame, for the reason that thevibrating part of the tongue rests on nothing, and can touch' nothing,and therefore it will be impossible -for the reed to produce 'any butthe most perfect tone of which a reed is capaas heretofore-constructed,to overcome which has been` the chief leffort of reed-manufacturers andusers for Amany years past;

By my method of making reeds, n'o more of the metal of the frame isnecessarily setup than is required to form the jaws for holding 4thetongue, and therefore the frame is not injuriously weakened, and theseat of the tongue remains intact,'and level with the other portions ofthe frame, and the tongue consequently rests upon a solid, uniform seat,which cannot be displaced, thereby securing the utmost solidity anduniformity of tone, together with the4 greatest reliability inmechanical construction.

As the jaws may be set up at the right 'distance apart to receive thetongue nearly or quite throughout the entire scale, the whole, .ornearly the whole, diionlty and expense of milling or planing a seat forthe tongue can be obviated, thereby rendering their mauufacture cheaper,while, at the same time, producing a more perfect and desirable articlethan can Abe produced by the different modes of construction in useprior to my invention.

Having described my improved metallic reed,

What I claim therein as new, and of my invention, and' desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A reed-frame havingtwo separate jaws set up from the same metal tohold the base of the tongue, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. A reed-frame having two jaws set up, at the ex- -aet distance apartto receive and hold the base of the tongue ofthe reed, as shown anddescribed.

3. A reed-tongue formed of reed-metal, the base of which is bevelled orscalloped upon the edge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' A. H. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

CHAs H. BURLnreH, D. L. MILLER.

